Not your average team

SOMERSET — The Somerset Berkley Regional High School freshmen football team had a .500 record this year, but the Blue Raiders were probably a much better than average football team this past season.

The Blue Raiders had 19 players on the team, but had a lot of players going in and out of the lineup during the season because of injuries and in some games only had 14 players. SB head coach Tim Mulrooney said the players had a lot of heart and character.

"I was very proud of the way these kids played," coach Mulrooney said. "They had built in excuses to give up on the season, but they never did. They were good kids, worked hard, played hard, learned the system and down the road, are going to be helpful to the varsity."

Somerset Berkley had a 5-5 record. Mulrooney said the team's most impressive game was a 34-23 win over Wareham. The team also beat Case, 21-0, and had wins over Coyle Cassidy, Tri-County Voke and Dighton-Rehoboth.

The team had two quarterbacks during the season with Justin Duarte and Kyle Crombie taking the snaps.

"They both had very successful years," Mulrooney said. "We had good blocking and they handled the games with poise. We did not have many turnovers as a team."

In the back field for the Blue Raiders were running backs C.J. Mulrooney and Bobby McNeal and fullback Blair Gomes. Gomes was injured half way through the season and Sean Rockcliffe stepped in to play fullback. Crombie also saw time at running back.

The offensive line for Somerset Berkley consisted of center Zachary Gordon, guards Jayden Torres and Joe Arruda, tackles Jason Machado and Tai Medeiros and at the tight end position were Duarte, who was the team's best receiver, Liam Mulvey and Christian Chaves.

Coach Mulrooney said Medeiros did an excellent job with the punting and place kicking for the Blue Raiders.

On the defensive side of the ball were nose tackle Adam Correira, who also got injured during the season. Torres took over for him at nose tackle when he was out. Torres also played defensive tackle, along with Machado and Tyler Gaudreau. The defensive ends were Mitch Prario, Mulvey and Chaves. The linebackers for the team were Crombie, Rockcliffe and Medeiros. Austin Prudente, Mulrooney, McNeal and Duarte were the team's defensive backs. Elijah Quental played cornerback for half the season before breaking his arm.

Coach Mulrooney said the key reserve players for the team were Tommy Painten and Brandon Kinnane on the defensive line.

"We've got some talented kids on that team," coach Mulrooney said. "It's not large in size or numbers, but there are some skilled players who will help the varsity."

Coach Mulrooney's son, C.J., plays on the team, but there are also two other players who are sons of former Somerset High School football players who played with coach Mulrooney on the 1981 team that had a 10-0 record in the regular season and lost in the Super Bowl. Coach Mulrooney played with Chris Duarte, father of Justin, and Paul Duarte, Justin's uncle, as well as David Rockcliffe, father of Sean.

"It was a pleasure for me to be able to coach their kids," coach Mulrooney said. "I really enjoyed that."

The captains of the freshmen football team were Crombie, Mulrooney and Torres.

Jim Baldi was the assistant coach and called the offensive plays. Coach Mulrooney said Baldi has a very sharp football mind.

Coach Mulrooney said he liked the way his team closed out its year. He said the Blue Raiders had Bishop Feehan on the ropes in the first quarter, but the Shamrocks came back and beat them. He said when the taem had all of its 19 players, Somerset Berkley was a very solid team, but said the Blue Raiders were not at full strength very often during the season.

"We were playing our best football at the end of the year, which tells me these kids worked hard and got better," Mulrooney said. "That's what you're looking for as a coach, for them to improve from week to week, and they did."